Home › Best card by category › flights
Best card by category
Best credit card for flights
Flights can earn a bonus when booked directly with the airline, and a different rate when booked through the issuer's own travel portal. Both are ranked below. Today the top-ranked card for airlines is the American Express Platinum at 8.5% effective value, and the best with no annual fee is the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect at 4%.
Rates last reviewed between August 4, 2026 and September 28, 2026. Data published October 22, 2026.
Cards with a bonus on flights, booked directly
| # | Card | Earns | Effective value | Annual fee | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Express PlatinumAmex | 5x points | 8.5% | $895 |
|
| 2 | Chase Sapphire ReserveVisa | 4x points | 7.2% | $795 |
|
| 3 | American Express GreenAmex | 3x points | 5.1% | $150 |
|
| 4 | American Express GoldAmex | 3x points | 5.1% | $325 |
|
| 5 | Citi Strata PremierMastercard | 3x points | 4.8% | $95 |
|
| 6 | U.S. Bank Altitude ConnectVisa | 4x points | 4% | $0 |
|
| 7 | Wells Fargo Autograph JourneyVisa | 4x points | 4% | $95 |
|
| 8 | Chase Sapphire PreferredVisa | 2x points | 3.6% | $95 |
|
| 9 | Barclays AARP Travel RewardsMastercard | 3% cash back | 3% | $0 | |
| 10 | Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by CitiVisa | 3% cash back | 3% | $0 |
|
If you book through the issuer's travel portal
| # | Card | Earns | Effective value | Annual fee | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chase Sapphire ReserveVisa | 8x points | 14.4% | $795 |
|
| 2 | Citi Strata EliteMastercard | 6x points | 9.6% | $595 |
|
| 3 | Chase Sapphire PreferredVisa | 5x points | 9% | $95 |
|
| 4 | Capital One Venture XVisa | 5x miles | 6% | $395 |
|
| 5 | Chase Amazon PrimeVisa | 5x points | 5% | $0 |
|
| 6 | Chase Freedom FlexMastercard | 5% cash back | 5% | $0 |
|
| 7 | Chase Freedom UnlimitedVisa | 5% cash back | 5% | $0 |
|
| 8 | U.S. Bank Cash+Visa | 5% cash back | 5% | $0 |
|
For comparison: the best flat-rate cards
These pay the same rate on everything, so they set the bar a bonus card has to beat.
| # | Card | Earns | Effective value | Annual fee | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coastal Community Bank Robinhood Gold CardVisa | 3% cash back | 3% | $0 |
|
| 2 | Alliant Credit Union Alliant Visa® Signature CardVisa | 2.5% cash back | 2.5% | $0 |
|
| 3 | Citi Strata EliteMastercard | 1.5x points | 2.4% | $595 |
|
| 4 | Capital One Venture RewardsVisa | 2x miles | 2.4% | $95 |
|
| 5 | Capital One Venture XVisa | 2x miles | 2.4% | $395 |
|
Effective value is the headline rate times what a point or mile is worth, before annual fees. Points and miles are valued at: American Express 1.7¢, Chase 1¢, Citi 1.6¢, U.S. Bank 1¢, Wells Fargo 1¢, Capital One 1.2¢. Cash back counts at face value. Personal cards only; sign-up bonuses, statement credits and other perks are not counted. Airline and hotel co-brand cards are left out: they pay their bonus only at their own brand.
What usually counts
- Flights bought directly from an airline.
- A separate rate can apply if you book through the issuer's travel portal (second table).
Watch out for
- Points are worth more or less depending on how you redeem them, so the effective rate here is an estimate.
- Airline co-brand cards usually pay their bonus only on that airline.
Which of your cards wins?
The best card in the world is the best card you actually own. Add your cards to PointMaxxer and see which one to use for flights, and every other purchase, in a second. Free, no sign-up, no bank login.